PINT OF SCIENCE FESTIVAL
18-20 MAY 2026
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Neurons on the Mic: from genes to behaviour
This evening, we will discuss how our daily work as neuroscientists relies on different organisms, from microscopic worms to common lab mice, to understand how genes affect cells and drive behaviours such as feeding, memory, and sleep
What can we learn from a brain made of 302 neurons?
Patrick Laurent
FNRS Reasercher
Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Neurons are champions of cell-cell communication, enabling the brain to generate behaviour. But beyond the well-known synapse, how does this communication actually work? We investigate the cellular mechanisms that drive neuron-to-neuron communication—from sensory perception to behaviour—in the compact yet sophisticated nervous system of C. elegans, a worm with just 302 neurons.
Dopamine, simply a rewarding signal?
Fares JP SAYEGH
Post-Doc
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Dopamine is often dubbed the “reward chemical” because of its close ties to pleasure and habit formation.
Yet this molecule continues to surprise us, being released during unexpected events and threats alongside rewards. It is even active during sleep! As a result, its role is still debated.
In this talk, we will explore how dopamine influences memory through hippocampal plasticity, look at how it affects its main targets during sleep, and discuss how its function extends far beyond rewards.
